P7.3-M shabu seized as 4 arrested in Marawi, CDO

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – Separate anti-drug operations in Marawi and Cagayan de Oro cities resulted in the arrest of two suspects who yielded a combined value of P7.3 million worth of shabu.

Saturday’s operation by the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao office (PDEA-Barmm) resulted in the arrest of suspects Jamil Khalil and Sarangani Bangcorong Khalil, who were caught in possession of 1 kilogram of shabu worth P6.8 million.

Abraham Kalim, PDEA-Barmm team leader, said the Khalils were ar

rested in a buy-bust around 11:45 a.m. on the Amai Pakpak National Highway in Marawi City.

The Army’s 103rd Infantry Brigade, the 82nd, and 55th Infantry Battalions, the 1403rd Regional Mobile Force Battalion, and Marawi City Police Station took part in the operation.

Col. Jose Maria Cuerpo, 103rd Brigade commander, vowed to continue to support the PDEA enforce the law and “work to changing the people’s outlook and perception on illegal drugs in Lanao del Sur and Marawi City.”

“More Meranaws want the illegal drugs to be eradicated, as they are now the ones giving tips to authorities to identity big-time drug peddlers,” Cuerpo said in Filipino.

Police said the suspects were brought to Cotabato City for appropriate filling of cases.

Valentine’s Day arrest

Meanwhile, the Police Regional Special Operations Unit (RSOU) of the Police Regional Office-10 arrested Benjamin Bejec Daculos Jr, 40; and Mark Anthony Macabudbud Hipolito, 23, in a buy-bust in Cagayan de Oro City Friday.

Both suspects are considered “high-value targets.”

Daculos and Hipolito yielded a caliber .22 revolver loaded with live ammunition, and 10 large sachets of shabu with an estimated street value of P500,000, police said.

Police said the suspects were under surveillance for two weeks before they were arrested and that appropriate cases are being prepared against them.